Both coffee and red wine are beloved across the world and they’re also both notorious for their capabilities to stain teeth. Coffee contains tannins and chromogens, which can adhere to the enamel and cause discoloration. Similarly, red wine is also rich in chromogens and has high acidity, which can roughen enamel and make staining worse.1,2
Many people wonder whether whitening their teeth means they need to avoid these favorite beverages or risk jeopardizing their whitening results.
Don’t worry, coffee and wine enjoyers, there is no need to abstain from dark-colored foods and drinks. Whitening does not make the teeth more susceptible to staining during or immediately after the active whitening process.3 Consuming coffee or red wine during or directly after the whitening process actually decreases the likelihood of stains compared to consuming them if you weren't whitening.
This is because any product consumed during the whitening process would be nullified by the whitening treatment; coffee or wine would not have the opportunity to stain or discolor during or directly after whitening because the whitening product is still on teeth.
There is some research saying that consuming staining substances like coffee and red wine immediately after whitening can diminish the effectiveness of the treatment and make teeth more prone to absorbing pigments from dark-colored foods and drinks.4 However, these studies were performed on non-vital (dead), extracted teeth instead of live patients with intact teeth. Using non-vital teeth means the teeth aren’t being cared for with daily oral hygiene habits and this appears to have impacted results in this study. 5
While whitening with products like Opalescence™ teeth whitening does not make teeth more susceptible to staining during the process, it’s still important to practice good oral hygiene.1
Your journey to a brighter smile doesn't mean you have to completely give up the things you love. It's about finding balance between food and drink choices, practicing good dental hygiene, and maintaining teeth whitening results through necessary touch-ups. By being mindful of these factors, you can maximize your whitening results and still enjoy your favorite treats.
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